Sparkle on a Gray Day

Today we decided to take the tree down and my husband and I are removing ornaments while our nearly two year old daughter is weaving in between our legs to gain access to ornaments. She is determined to get a hand on anything within reach, as they rightfully do at this age, and we are trying to remain patient while telling her no and re-directing her as much as possible. Ha! It only works for about ten seconds before she gets a grip on a butterfly with golden sparkle wings covered in glitter and runs off triumphantly with a look of glee on her little face.

I knew this simple task would take three times as long as it should, but am working on increasing my patience and not getting stressed over escapee butterflies or sticky fingers. Deep breaths and I remind myself that it's going to be more difficult in a few months, just wait until her little sister comes. I will "look back and think that I had it easy", but I'm finding that hard to believe.

Now fast forward a few minutes- we are in my bathroom. She sits down on the blue bathmat with her two broken butterflies and is fully engaged in removing a wing and replacing a wing intermittently. I am doing something when she looks up at me sweetly and says "sit". This simple request is suddenly clear, I am being asked to stop and just be with her in the moment on our cold bathroom floor to investigate the complexities of broken glitter butterfly ornaments whose wings are irreparable.

As we sit together and play with them, I am reminded that this is what I like most about motherhood. Small moments and a feeling of comradery in the middle of the day when you have no idea it's coming. A time-out from adult cares. It made my day brighter.